Avery County commissioners back state-managed SMART debris-removal plan pending MOU review

Avery County commissioners agreed May 5 to pursue a partnership with North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) to move debris-removal operations under the state'managed SMART program, after NCEM staff said the state would manage operations, assume payment responsibilities and place monitors in the field.

"The state will take over as far as managing and the state will assume responsibility to pay the bills," said Joe Stanton, North Carolina Emergency Management assistant director for recovery, describing an approach aimed at easing county cash-flow pressures and expanding oversight. Stanton said the state would enter into a memorandum of understanding with Avery County and that attorneys are revising the MOU language.

The board pressed NCEM on timing, scope and coverage. Commissioner Wood Hall Young Jr. asked when the state would take over; Stanton said the start depends on resolving temporary-debris-site arrangements and completing legal review. "We will work with the county and we will make sure there is a clear cutoff date," said NCEM staff member Jerritt Gideon when asked about an end date.

Vice-Chair Dennis Aldridge asked whether the state option covered only waterways or would include private-property debris removal (PPDR). Stanton said the state proposal would include waterways, PPDR and some right-of-way work and that FEMA and the state would supply field monitors "to ensure things were done appropriately." Caleb Hogan, the county finance officer, asked whether the state coverage could be retroactive for work already completed; Stanton said he could not find a mechanism to make the program retroactive.

Commissioners also asked whether known debris contractors would accept the state-managed arrangement. Stanton said contractors SDR and Debristech had indicated they were agreeable. County contractor Tiawana Ramsey asked what would happen to debris already at temporary sites; Stanton said disposition of material already staged at county sites would be discussed among the contractor, the county and NCEM.

Board members expressed relief at the proposal. "The scale of this disaster has overwhelmed everyone," Aldridge said, thanking NCEM for the provision, and noting the county sought to avoid tying up large portions of its fund balance while recovery continues.

The board reached consensus to move forward and either hold a special meeting when the MOU is finalized or allow the county attorney and county manager to review and execute the agreement. The meeting adjourned at 1:32 p.m. after a motion by Dennis Aldridge and a second by Wood Hall Young Jr.; the motion was recorded as unanimously approved by those in attendance.

The next procedural step is final review of the MOU by county legal staff and negotiation of specific cutoff dates, monitoring roles and the handling of debris already at temporary sites.